Separating ingots from their stools



Jan; 20, 1948. w. E. BLACK SEPARATING INGOTS FROM THEIR STOOLS 2 Sheets-Skeet 1 Filed March 28, 1944 INVENTOR Wi/fiam Ear/e B/a CK fi LWwM Jan. 20, 1948. w, 5 BLACK 2,434,733

SEPARATING INGOTS FROM THEIR STOOLS Filed March 28, 1,944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 12% 1948 2,434,733 SEPARATING INGOTS FROM THEIR STOOLS William Earle Black, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 28, 1944, Serial No. 528,375

Claims.

This invention relates to separating ingots from their stools. It relates particularly to a method and apparatus for use in separating ingots from the stools on which they are cast, particularly inby, after which the wing tongs may be lowered to bear downwardly on the pressure transmitting means to transmit the mass of the wing tongs to the stool.

gots which adhere to their stools with more or 5 I fu t e pro ide a pr s u tra smittin po t less tenacity and which are referred to in the art for use in separating an ingot from the stool on as stickers. which it is cast comprising a base portion posi- Heretofore it has been customary in separating tionab e on the tool a d a b dy Porti n exte d stickers from their stools to pick up the ingot by generally up y from the base Portion a tongs suspended from an overhead crane and having a urf t engage and upp n leswing the ingot with the adhering stool so as to ment o t e w tongs O an ingot t ppe a d a strike the stool forcibly against any suitable obr yin p t on w e y h t s d pt d t ject to cause the stool to loosen and fall oil of be P c e p and Carried y Said e efthe ingot. This procedure is ineflicient and brings ly th p t has a p i n t i p adapted about rapid deterioration of the equipment, parto engage and support an element of the wing ticularly the stools. tongs and a laterally projecting portion there- I have devised a method and apparatus for below whereby th p is adapted t be Picked up separating sticking ingots from their stools in the and carried by said element, the post having a employment of which the stool is not struck mass distribution such that while being carried against an object as in the prior procedure; in by said element it assumes a position with its body fact, the stool preferably remains in place on its p o generally Vertieal- Desirably the p has base and the ingot is separated from it without at s op 8- generally horizontal Surface d p any violent operation such as would tend to deto engage and support an element of h Wi teriorate the equipment as heretofore. My protongs and a laterally projecting trunnion therecedure is relatively elficient and results in marked .25 e ow w by the p is pt to e picked saving of time. up and carried by said element, the base por- I provide a method of separating an ingot from tion of the post being extended laterally on the the stool on which it is cast comprising simultaa e S e o t e P t as the trunnion to Provide neously holding one of the ingot and stool in in the posta mass distribution such that while it fixed position and moving the other thereof relais being carried by said element it assumes a potively to that which is held to separate the ingot sition with its body portion generally vertical. from the stool. I preferably hold the stool in fixed Other details, objects and advantages 'of the position and move the ingot relatively to the stool invention will become apparent as the following i to separate it therefrom. In the normal carrying description of a present preferred embodiment out of my method I simultaneously hold or press thereof and a present preferred method of pracdown the stool and raise or lift the ingot thereticing the same proceeds. from. In the accompanying drawings I have shown a Desirably I simultaneously press down against present preferred embodiment of the invention the stool by the wing tongs of an ingot stripper and have illustrated a present preferred method and lift the ingot by the stripping tongs. I pro- 40 of practicingthe same, in which vide for transmitting the mass of the relatively Figure l is a vertical cross-sectional view heavy wing tongs to the stool to hold it down through an ingot disposed on the stool on which while pulling up on the ingot with the stripping it has been cast, together with means for sepatongs, which in virtually all cases results in freerating the ingot from the stool; ing the sticker. Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in ele- I preferably provide pressure transmitting vation and partly in vertical cross section of a means positionable upon the stool for transmitportion of the structure shown in Figure 1; ting the mass of the wing tongs to the stool. The Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of pressure transmitting means preferably comprises the structure shown in Figure 2 as viewed from opposed posts adapted to transmit to the stool the the right hand side of that figure; mass of the wing tongs. Preferably one post 00- Figure 4 is an elevational view of a pressure operates with each of the cooperating elements transmitting post; and or tongs of the wing tongs. Preferably the pres- Figure 5 is an elevational view of the post sure transmitting means may be transported by shown in Figure 4 as Viewed from the right-hand the wing tongs and positioned on the stool thereside of that figure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown an ingot stool 2 with an ingot 3 thereon, the ingot 3 having been cast upon the stool 2 and the ingot mold having been stripped off and removed. Hence the ingot mold is not shown. The ingot 3 as shown in the drawings is of the big-end-down type.

The drawings show one form of apparatus for separating the ingot 3 from the stool 2. My apparatus as above described is especially adapted and intended for separating sticking ingots from their stools, but the apparatus may be employed regularly on all ingots cast in a particular foundry whether or not they are stickers.

1 preferably employ in separating ingots from their stools an ingot stripper which may be, and is shown as being, of conventional type suspended from an overhead crane (not shown). Since the stripper is conventional and well known to those skilled in the art it will not be described in detail. It is sufficient to say that the stripper embodies the usual wing tongs 4 and stripping tongs 5 with mechanism for operating them as well known in the art. The operating mechanism is partially shown more or less diagrammatically in Figure 1, this being, as above stated, conventionai.

I provide pressure transmitting-means which in the form shown in the drawings comprises opposed pressure transmitting posts each designated generally by reference numeral 6. Each post comprises a base'i surmounted by a generally upwardly extending body portion 8 having at its top spaced generally horizontal surface portions 9. Each post has projecting laterally therefrom a portion whereby the post is adapted to be picked up and carried by one of the wing tongs 4, suchportion being shown as a trunnion In of substantially circular cross-section having a radial flange at its extremity. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each post is somewhat wider in the horizontal direction normal to the axis of the trunnion if! at its top than at its bottom. The base 1, however, is extended laterally on the same side of the post as the trunnion, as shown at H, to provide in the post a mass distribution such that while it is being carried through engagement of one of the wing tongs 4 with the trunnion II) it assumes a position with its body portion tilted with its bottom surface lower at the left-hand end thereof viewing Figure 5 than at the right-hand end. Two of the posts are provided which are of identical structure and positionable upon the stool 2 as will now be described.

When the ingots are being cast and the ingot molds stripped therefrom the posts 6 are disposed in any suitable out-of-the-way position and perform no function. After the ingotmolds have been removed and disposed of the ingot stripper is moved by the overhead crane to a position in which the wing tongs 4 pick up the posts 3 through engagement of the tong portions l2 with the trunnions iii. The posts are disposed with the trunnions and the portions ll of each thereof disposed remotelyfrom the other post as shown in Figure 1. Due to the mass distribution of the posts they assume tilted positions when picked up by the wing tongs such that their lower edges adjacent the ingot are nearer the ingot than their corresponding upper edges; thus when the posts are set down their lower edges hug the ingot, insuring proper positioning of the posts on the stool with the posts positioned close to the ingot.

The overhead crane moves the stripper carrying the posts 6 as just described to a position above one of the ingots 3 on the stool 2. The wing tongs 4 are brought to a position in which when the stripper is lowered the posts 6 move downwardly on opposite sides of the ingot 3 but in very close proximity thereto until they come to rest on the stool 2 in a position such as that indicated in Figure 1. If the posts are slightly tilted as they are being lowered by the stripper they will assume positions with the body portions 8 thereof extending generally vertical upon being set down upon the stool 2.

As soon as the posts 6 are set down upon the stool 2 in the position shown in Figure 1 the stripper is lowered until the portions 13 of the wing tongs 4 come to rest upon the surface portions 9 of the posts as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The crane operator lowers the wing tongs until their mass is carried substantially entirely by the posts 6 which, due to the fact that they rest upon the upper surface of the stool 2, transmits the mass of the heavy wing tongs to the stool. The combined mass of the wing tongs and posts is in practically all cases sufficient to hold the stool firmly in place while the ingot is removed therefrom as will now be described.

With the wing tongs lowered so that their mass is brought to bear downwardly on the stool 2 through the posts 6, as has been explained, the stripping tongs 5 are operated to engage the ingot 3 and raise or lift the same from the stool 2. The stripper is sufficiently strong and heavy that the stool 2 will be held down in place by the wing tongs and the stripping tongs will lift it from the stool, freeing even a tenacious sticker without any violent action or undue wear and tear on the equipment.

' After the ingot has been freed or separated from its stool it is disposed of in the usual way, after which the posts 6 are by the wing tongs removed from the stool and set aside in an out-of-the-way position until their further use is required. If, as is ordinarily the case, a series of ingots is cast at one time, the crane operator may work down 7 the line using the same set of posts for separating each successive ingot from its stool.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention and a present preferred method of practicing the same, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto butmay be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in connection with an ingot stripper to separate from the stool on which it is cast an ingot from which the mold has previously been stripped comprising a plurality of separate pressure transmitting posts entirely disconnected from each other and from the ingot stripper each having a face adapted to lie next to the ingot and a face opposite the first mentioned face, means projecting outwardly from the second mentioned face of each post whereby the posts may be picked up and carried by the wing tongs of the ingot stripper, the posts being positionable on the stool at opposite sides of the ingot so as to have downward pressure transmitted therethrough to hold down the stool while the ingot is raised from the stool, and counterweight means also projecting outwardly from the second mentioned face of each post below said first mentioned means for tilting the post toward the ingot at its bottom when it is being thus carried.

2. Apparatus for use in connection with an ingot stripper to separate from the stool on which it is cast an ingot from which the mold has previously been stripped comprising a plurality of separate pressure transmitting posts entirely disconnected from each other and from the ingot stripper each having a face adapted to lie next to the ingot and a face opposite the first mentioned face, a trunnion of substantially circular cross-section having a radial flange at its extremity projecting outwardly from the second mentioned face of each post whereby the posts may be picked up and carried by the wing tongs of the ingot stripper, the posts being positionable on the stool at opposite sides of the ingot so as to have downward pressure transmitted therethrough to hold down the stool while the ingot is raised from the stool, and counterweight means also projecting outwardly from the second mentioned face of each post below the trunnion for tilting the post toward the ingot at its bottom when it is being thus carried.

3. In apparatus for separating from a stool on' which it is cast an ingot sticking thereto and which comprises a stripper having stripping tongs adapted to engage and lift the ingot and wing tongs extending below the stripping tongs, the combination with said stripping tongs and wing tongs of two pressure transmitting posts each separate from the stripper and from the other post and each having means whereby it may be picked up and carried by one of the wing tongs, the posts being adapted to be positioned on the stool at opposite sides of the ingot and to be engaged and pressed downwardly by the wing tongs to" hold down the stool while the ingot is raised therefrom by the stripping tongs.

4. In apparatus for separating from a stool on which it is cast an ingot sticking thereto and which comprises a stripper having stripping tongs adapted to engage and lift the ingot and wing tongs extending below the stripping tongs, the combination with said stripping tongs and wing tongs of .two pressure transmitting posts each separate from the stripper and from the other post and each having means whereby it may be picked up and carried by one of the wing tongs, the posts being adapted. to be positioned on the stool at opposite'sides of the ingot and to be engaged and pressed downwardly by the wing tongs to hold down the stool while the ingot is raised therefrom by the stripping tongs, the posts having their bottoms shaped to cooperate with the stool to maintain the posts substantially upright when seated in position on the stool.

5. In apparatus for separating from a stool on which it is cast an ingot sticking thereto and which comprises a stripper having stripping tongs adapted to engage and lift the ingot and wing tongs extending below the stripping tongs, the combination with said stripping tongs and wing tongs of two pressure transmitting posts each separate from the stripper and from the other post and each having means whereby it may be picked up and carried by one of the wing tongs, the posts being adapted to be positioned on the stool at opposite sides of the ingot and to be engaged and pressed downwardly by the wing tongs to hold down the stool while the ingot ls raised therefrom by the stripping tongs, the mass distribution of the posts being such that when they are freely suspended from the wing tongs of the ingot stripper the opposed faces thereof are at least as far apart at the tops of the posts as at the bottoms thereof.

WILLIAM vEARLE BLACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kendall Jan. 4, 1910 Stevens Mar. 4, 1930 Bigler et al May 26. 1931 Bigler et a1 Dec. 8, 1936 Hively Dec. 8, 1936 Kloos Dec. 8, 1936 Number 

